Geograph - photograph every grid square

Millennium Timespace explanatory plaque

One of the projects of Gosport and the Millennium Commission. It is commendable that this plaque is a bronze casting, giving excellent longevity. As can be seen, the lettering is small and dense, and the plaque is mounted only about four feet above ground. As a consequence, I gave up trying to read it, which is a pity as it's quite helpful in explaining the art work. I reproduce the wording below, with paragraphing added by me.

MILLENNIUM TIMESPACE

Welcome to the Timespace - a unique public arena and timepiece. In celebration of the year 2000 the design draws a physical and spiritual link between Holy Trinity Church and Portsmouth Harbour. The birth of Christ and the start of measurement of modern time is symbolised by the line in the paving leading from the Timespace to Holy Trinity Church and the year 2000 by a line in the paving leading from the space to the Harbour.

The design takes it's [sic] inspiration from Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and his space-time cone diagram is represented within the paving. At the central 'here and now point' is a mast which casts the shadow for the sundial.

The sundial is man's oldest astronomical instrument and tells sun time for any specific space. The middle of the shadow cast by the cones on the mast indicates sun time (Universal Time). The sun time is indicated by the plaques and marker lines. During summer time (British Summer Time) add one hour. Sun time differs from clock time by up to plus or minus 16 minutes, due to the nature of the spin of the Earth on it's [sic] orbit around the Sun 93 million miles away.

When the sun crosses the meridian, the line of True North marked on the paving surface, the small circle of light within the shadow not only indicates sun time but also the date. The sun date is indicated by plaques located along the True North line.

Modern time keeping technology is also included in the Timespace. A digital clock housed in the Millennium Gateway is linked to a light clock within the paving surface indicated by the Roman numerals and an acoustic system which provides a chime for the clock at quarter hour periods. Red lights indicate the hours, green lights five minute intervals and the white lights five second intervals.

The paving mosaic around the perimeter of the site depicts events and characters from Gosport's rich maritime history.